Grapes and gains: the influence of farming methods on Austrian wine ratings and prices

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Purpose: The objective of this study is to ascertain whether there are statistically significant price differences between Austrian biodynamic, organic and conventional wines, and whether these wines are rated differently in an internationally recognised wine guide. Design: A content analysis of the Austrian Gault&Millau Wine Guides 2015–2018 was carried out. The data analysed–8,667 different wines featured in the four editions mentioned–included the names of the wineries, company size, region of origin, rating (points) and cellar door prices. Results: The results show that biodynamic wines in the Austrian Gault&Millau wine guides 2015–2018 (928 in total) are significantly better (higher) rated and have higher cellar door prices than organic wines (1,180 positions) and conventional wines (the vast majority–6,559 wines). No significant evidence was found for differences in cellar door prices between organic and conventional wines. Practical implications: The results do not necessarily indicate that Austrian wines made from biodynamic grapes are better and more expensive than others. Rather, our results indicate that a large number of leading Austrian wine producers use biodynamic farming methods, and thus the average ratings and average prices of these wines are inherently higher.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)208-217
    Number of pages10
    JournalJournal of Wine Research
    Volume35
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 22 Aug 2024

    Keywords

    • Biodynamic
    • cellar-door price
    • Gault&Millau
    • organic and conventional wine
    • wine ratings

    Research fields

    • Marketing and consumer studies

    IMC Research Focuses

    • Innovation management and consumer studies

    ÖFOS 2012 - Austrian Fields of Study

    • 405002 Agricultural economics

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